(CNN) – President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday joined calls for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign.
"The president-elect agrees with [Illinois] Lt. Governor Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
On Tuesday Blagojevich was arrested on federal conspiracy charges. Prosecutors alleged in their complaint that Blagojevich pressured candidates to replace Obama in the Senate for campaign contributions and other benefits.
Gibbs said Obama also supported legislation that will be considered by Illinois lawmakers on Monday to authorize a special election to choose his successor.
Obama believes Illinois lawmakers should "put in place a process to select a new senator that will have the trust and confidence of the the people of Illinois," Gibbs said.
From CNN Politics
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Blagojevich should resign! Or better yet, impeached and then locked up.
My question is this, will he still get his taxpayer retirement benefits?
Okay Governor....go on....get under that bus with the Clintons, Rev. Wright, the liberal wing, and the rest.
Yeah, I feel sorry for Blago. He did a lot of good things for the poor and helpless. I think he just snapped and lost it. But what he said or done, is not any worse than W and Chen ey. I dont know. It really was stupid for him to do stupid things.
Jail time should happen.
And another one gone and another one gone, another one [ under the bus ] bites the dust...
It's nice to know us brainwashed americans voted a person from the great Illinois political tree in office. CHANGE BABY!!
Ohhh yeah, he's definitely gonna be gone now...
I have to say that I agree and he should be impeached i live in IL and have nothing good to say about the Blagojevich. he has ruined so much in our state its not funny. So please Gov. resign and enjoy your vacation at club Fed youve earned it
Obama suggests the governor's resignation be for his inability to lead at this time. He did not try and convict the guy before the jury does.
On a scale of 1-5 (5 being best):
Timeliness of announcement: 3 (could've said it sooner)
What was said: 5 (spoken as articulately as usual)
Effort to distance himself: 4 (he could be a little more scathing, but maybe it's good he isn't)
The people of Illinoie should be calling for his head. He put a cloud over the state that was having one of its best PR periods in its history. They should rush his trial through, and based on the tapes he should be found guilty and he then should be sentenced on January 20, 2009. Poetic Justice.
Obama has a lot of friends, the Rev. Wright, and now the governor of Illinois, who else? He is no angel himself, or is it simply bad influence?? American people derserve better.
I don't really understand Obama's flip-flopping. I remember yesterday that he said it was a sad day in Chicago. But I believe that if the federal prosecutors have something on the governor, then the governor should resign.
Translated: Blogo, take the hit man. If you do and keep quiet, I will take care of you man.
Replace one "crook" with another..........called it "special", but it all comes out the same in the wash.
Yes. Absolutely. His hand was in the preverbial "Cookie Jar". Tapes are tapes. Nixon also learned this the hard way.
He won't resign but there is no doubt in my mind that he should.
Very good! Clean up that mess.
To "Welcome to the Obama show" on the
other blogs:
You have a very, very big mouth today
Next year you are mumbling
in two years you will be quiet
after three years you will be speecheles
and after four years you will be voting for
Baracks second term.
So, get used to it!
Ted van Tol
The Neherlands
Good call President elect
I'll second that.
Resigning won't make any difference if he is going to "rat out" the Prez-elect. The house of cards is already falling......
Good for you President-Elect. Clear out the garbage....
Good move, future president.
Also, good move by Durbin, who I personally have always admired, to call for the Illinois legislature to authorize a speedy special election to elect a replacement Senator. That's the best option possible under the circumstances.
As much as I always supported Obama, this is why it's a PITA to have Senators as presidential candidates. Now there needs to be a replacement found for Obama, Biden, and Clinton, since all three were sitting Senators. That puts a lot of power in the hands of the governors, and the governors of both Illinois and New York are not exactly known for being good at dealing with power.
Honest Goverment has arrived. Thank you Barack. America ,President-elect Obama and his transition Team have done more in 4 weeks, than Bush has done in 8 years. Again Barack thank you for putting our country back on track... Its going to be a great 4 years America.
He's absolutely right. The Gov. should resign or face impeachment! This type of conduct should not be tolerated.
This Govenor is an idiot. He must resign and be put in jail after due process. President-Elect Obama is right.